Written Answers Wednesday 13 December 2006

Scottish Executive

Adoption

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many allegations have been made against foster carers since 1999.

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many investigations into allegations against foster carers were completed in under (a) three, (b) six and (c) 12 months since 1999.

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many foster carers under investigation have had their payments stopped since 1999.

Robert Brown: This information is not held centrally.

Adoption

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing statutory timescales for investigations into allegations against foster carers.

Robert Brown: The consultation paper on a National Fostering and Kinship Care Strategy seeks responses on the merits of a national protocol for dealing with and responding to allegations. It also asks how a balance should be achieved between the needs of children and young people to have their allegations properly investigated with the needs of carers for timely and appropriate support.

Adoption

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when its consultation document on a national fostering strategy will be completed.

Robert Brown: The consultation on the National Fostering and Kinship Care Strategy was published on 6 December 2006. Copies are available at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/12/07091551/0.

  The deadline for responses to the consultation 16 February 2007.

Adoption

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider a national protocol in its national fostering strategy, as recommended in the Adoption Policy Review Group report, Adoption: Better Choices for Our Children .

Robert Brown: The consultation paper on a National Fostering and Kinship Care Strategy seeks responses on the merits of a national protocol for dealing with and responding to allegations.

Adoption

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider independent support in its national fostering strategy, as recommended in the Adoption Policy Review Group report, Adoption: Better Choices for Our Children .

Robert Brown: The consultation paper on a National Fostering and Kinship Care Strategy invites views on a range of measures that are intended to enhance support for foster and kinship carers.

Adoption

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider an independent appeals process in its national fostering strategy, as recommended in the Adoption Policy Review Group report, Adoption: Better Choices for Our Children .

Robert Brown: The consultation paper on a National Fostering and Kinship Care Strategy invites views on this issue.

Dentistry

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the NHS Dental Bursary Scheme is only available to students studying in Scotland and, if so, why this is the case.

Lewis Macdonald: Yes, the new dental bursary is available only to students studying in Scotland.

  The main purpose of the bursary scheme is to encourage students, who are studying at the dental schools in Scotland, to remain in Scotland and take up working in the NHS dental services in Scotland after graduation.

Education

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of funding has been allocated to each education authority for (a) primary and (b) secondary education in each of the last five years, expressed also per pupil and per capita of population.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information requested, based on shares of Grant Aided Expenditure allocations, is shown in the following tables.

  

 Primary
 2002-03
 2003-04


Grant Aided Expenditure Allocation (£000)
Per Head (£)
Per Pupil (£)
Grant Aided Expenditure Allocation (£000)
Per Head (£)
Per Pupil (£)


 Aberdeen City
 24,147
 119
 1,825
 26,229
 130
 1,982


 Aberdeenshire
 38,165
 162
 1,907
 41,232
 175
 2,060


 Angus
 16,791
 154
 1,838
 18,312
 168
 2,004


 Argyll and Bute
 14,190
 156
 2,042
 15,233
 168
 2,192


 Clackmannanshire
 7,266
 149
 1,781
 7,950
 163
 1,948


 Dumfries and Galloway
 23,578
 159
 2,011
 25,658
 173
 2,189


 Dundee City
 18,477
 130
 1,788
 20,011
 141
 1,936


 East Ayrshire
 17,520
 147
 1,775
 18,895
 158
 1,914


 East Dunbartonshire
 16,909
 160
 1,786
 17,969
 170
 1,898


 East Lothian
 13,686
 149
 1,760
 15,088
 164
 1,941


 East Renfrewshire
 13,950
 156
 1,608
 15,070
 168
 1,737


 Edinburgh, City of
 47,841
 104
 1,827
 52,511
 115
 2,006


 Eilean Siar
 4,948
 188
 2,358
 5,233
 198
 2,494


 Falkirk
 20,836
 140
 1,734
 22,931
 154
 1,908


 Fife
 49,010
 137
 1,734
 53,063
 149
 1,877


 Glasgow City
 72,855
 126
 1,797
 79,695
 138
 1,965


 Highland
 35,307
 165
 1,988
 38,398
 180
 2,162


 Inverclyde
 11,894
 145
 1,832
 12,791
 156
 1,970


 Midlothian
 12,008
 152
 1,794
 13,093
 165
 1,956


 Moray
 13,502
 153
 1,764
 14,718
 167
 1,923


 North Ayrshire
 19,990
 147
 1,752
 21,793
 160
 1,910


 North Lanarkshire
 47,278
 146
 1,689
 52,035
 161
 1,859


 Orkney
 3,411
 174
 2,025
 3,654
 187
 2,170


 Perth and Kinross
 18,918
 137
 1,809
 20,780
 150
 1,987


 Renfrewshire
 24,616
 145
 1,768
 26,998
 159
 1,939


 Scottish Borders
 16,414
 150
 1,893
 18,024
 164
 2,078


 Shetland
 4,287
 195
 2,180
 4,626
 210
 2,352


 South Ayrshire
 15,196
 136
 1,808
 16,331
 146
 1,943


 South Lanarkshire
 43,493
 142
 1,737
 47,402
 155
 1,893


 Stirling
 12,119
 139
 1,739
 13,304
 153
 1,909


 West Dunbartonshire
 13,451
 147
 1,782
 14,597
 160
 1,933


 West Lothian
 24,773
 151
 1,675
 27,293
 167
 1,845


 Scotland
 716,828
 141
 1,802
 780,918
 153
 1,963



  

 Primary
 2004-05
 2005-06


Grant Aided Expenditure Allocation (£000)
Per Head (£)
Per Pupil (£)
Grant Aided Expenditure Allocation (£000)
Per Head (£)
Per Pupil (£)


 Aberdeen City
 26,732
 132
 2,020
 27,932
 138
 2,111


 Aberdeenshire
 43,790
 186
 2,188
 45,708
 194
 2,283


 Angus
 19,213
 176
 2,103
 19,992
 183
 2,188


 Argyll and Bute
 16,394
 180
 2,359
 16,971
 187
 2,442


 Clackmannanshire
 8,810
 181
 2,159
 9,180
 189
 2,249


 Dumfries and Galloway
 27,316
 184
 2,330
 28,397
 191
 2,422


 Dundee City
 20,716
 146
 2,004
 21,543
 152
 2,084


 East Ayrshire
 19,716
 165
 1,997
 20,428
 171
 2,069


 East Dunbartonshire
 19,106
 180
 2,018
 19,964
 188
 2,108


 East Lothian
 15,898
 173
 2,045
 16,710
 182
 2,149


 East Renfrewshire
 16,848
 188
 1,942
 17,801
 199
 2,052


 Edinburgh, City of
 53,233
 116
 2,033
 56,092
 123
 2,142


 Eilean Siar
 5,607
 213
 2,672
 5,919
 224
 2,821


 Falkirk
 23,952
 161
 1,993
 25,251
 169
 2,101


 Fife
 56,741
 159
 2,007
 59,579
 167
 2,108


 Glasgow City
 81,317
 140
 2,005
 84,153
 145
 2,075


 Highland
 40,777
 191
 2,296
 42,757
 200
 2,407


 Inverclyde
 13,123
 160
 2,021
 13,725
 167
 2,114


 Midlothian
 13,682
 173
 2,044
 14,536
 184
 2,171


 Moray
 16,008
 182
 2,092
 16,716
 190
 2,184


 North Ayrshire
 23,062
 170
 2,021
 23,997
 177
 2,103


 North Lanarkshire
 55,315
 171
 1,976
 58,651
 181
 2,096


 Orkney
 3,862
 197
 2,294
 3,981
 203
 2,364


 Perth and Kinross
 22,339
 161
 2,136
 23,465
 170
 2,244


 Renfrewshire
 27,843
 164
 1,999
 29,215
 172
 2,098


 Scottish Borders
 18,863
 172
 2,175
 19,896
 181
 2,294


 Shetland
 4,848
 220
 2,465
 5,008
 228
 2,546


 South Ayrshire
 17,398
 156
 2,069
 18,233
 163
 2,169


 South Lanarkshire
 50,248
 164
 2,006
 52,443
 171
 2,094


 Stirling
 14,323
 165
 2,056
 15,238
 175
 2,187


 West Dunbartonshire
 15,461
 169
 2,048
 16,156
 177
 2,140


 West Lothian
 29,355
 179
 1,985
 31,157
 190
 2,107


 Scotland
 821,895
 161
 2,066
 860,793
 169
 2,164



  

 Primary
 2006-07


Grant Aided Expenditure Allocation (£000)
Per Head (£)
Per Pupil (£)


 Aberdeen City
 27,380
 135
 2,069


 Aberdeenshire
 48,422
 206
 2,419


 Angus
 21,116
 193
 2,311


 Argyll and Bute
 17,929
 197
 2,580


 Clackmannanshire
 8,574
 176
 2,101


 Dumfries and Galloway
 29,524
 199
 2,518


 Dundee City
 21,338
 150
 2,065


 East Ayrshire
 20,947
 175
 2,122


 East Dunbartonshire
 19,561
 185
 2,066


 East Lothian
 17,017
 185
 2,189


 East Renfrewshire
 18,117
 202
 2,088


 Edinburgh, City of
 54,390
 119
 2,077


 Eilean Siar
 6,985
 265
 3,330


 Falkirk
 25,856
 173
 2,151


 Fife
 61,280
 172
 2,168


 Glasgow City
 84,428
 146
 2,082


 Highland
 44,652
 209
 2,514


 Inverclyde
 13,447
 164
 2,071


 Midlothian
 14,863
 188
 2,220


 Moray
 17,411
 198
 2,275


 North Ayrshire
 24,138
 178
 2,116


 North Lanarkshire
 59,245
 183
 2,117


 Orkney
 4,539
 232
 2,695


 Perth and Kinross
 24,544
 177
 2,347


 Renfrewshire
 29,156
 172
 2,094


 Scottish Borders
 20,501
 187
 2,364


 Shetland
 5,719
 260
 2,907


 South Ayrshire
 18,505
 166
 2,201


 South Lanarkshire
 54,350
 177
 2,170


 Stirling
 15,635
 180
 2,244


 West Dunbartonshire
 15,649
 171
 2,073


 West Lothian
 31,695
 194
 2,143


 Scotland
 876,913
 172
 2,204



  

 Secondary
 2002-03
 2003-04


Grant Aided Expenditure Allocation (£000)
Per Head (£)
Per Pupil (£)
Grant Aided Expenditure Allocation (£000)
Per Head (£)
Per Pupil (£)


 Aberdeen City
 31,221
 154
 2,986
 34,304
 170
 3,280


 Aberdeenshire
 43,126
 183
 2,716
 47,024
 200
 2,961


 Angus
 20,285
 186
 2,864
 21,936
 201
 3,097


 Argyll and Bute
 15,260
 168
 2,641
 16,337
 180
 2,828


 Clackmannanshire
 8,619
 177
 2,661
 9,371
 193
 2,893


 Dumfries and Galloway
 27,666
 187
 2,886
 30,237
 204
 3,155


 Dundee City
 25,023
 176
 2,944
 27,079
 190
 3,185


 East Ayrshire
 22,812
 191
 2,764
 24,799
 208
 3,005


 East Dunbartonshire
 24,715
 233
 2,844
 26,787
 253
 3,082


 East Lothian
 15,209
 166
 2,625
 16,842
 183
 2,907


 East Renfrewshire
 20,820
 232
 2,730
 22,904
 256
 3,003


 Edinburgh, City of
 58,283
 127
 2,894
 64,259
 140
 3,191


 Eilean Siar
 6,959
 264
 3,619
 7,519
 285
 3,910


 Falkirk
 23,953
 161
 2,617
 26,242
 176
 2,867


 Fife
 65,623
 184
 2,927
 71,298
 200
 3,180


 Glasgow City
 82,683
 143
 2,854
 90,325
 156
 3,117


 Highland
 41,480
 194
 2,777
 44,980
 211
 3,012


 Inverclyde
 16,199
 197
 2,908
 17,540
 214
 3,148


 Midlothian
 16,043
 203
 2,887
 17,427
 220
 3,137


 Moray
 16,162
 183
 2,684
 17,803
 202
 2,957


 North Ayrshire
 25,930
 191
 2,817
 28,190
 208
 3,063


 North Lanarkshire
 63,573
 197
 2,843
 68,604
 212
 3,068


 Orkney
 4,907
 250
 3,438
 5,297
 270
 3,712


 Perth and Kinross
 21,875
 158
 2,762
 23,506
 170
 2,968


 Renfrewshire
 33,730
 198
 2,894
 37,227
 219
 3,193


 Scottish Borders
 18,895
 172
 2,702
 20,714
 189
 2,963


 Shetland
 5,973
 272
 3,579
 6,540
 297
 3,918


 South Ayrshire
 22,050
 197
 2,986
 24,097
 216
 3,263


 South Lanarkshire
 57,380
 187
 2,866
 61,965
 202
 3,095


 Stirling
 16,120
 185
 2,668
 17,682
 203
 2,926


 West Dunbartonshire
 19,344
 212
 3,024
 20,927
 229
 3,271


 West Lothian
 29,765
 182
 2,745
 32,540
 199
 3,001


 Scotland
 901,684
 177
 2,840
 982,303
 193
 3,094



  

 Secondary
 2004-05
 2005-06


Grant Aided Expenditure Allocation (£000)
Per Head (£)
Per Pupil (£)
Grant Aided Expenditure Allocation (£000)
Per Head (£)
Per Pupil (£)


 Aberdeen City
 34,497
 170
 3,299
 36,382
 180
 3,479


 Aberdeenshire
 50,380
 214
 3,172
 52,515
 223
 3,307


 Angus
 22,892
 210
 3,232
 24,124
 221
 3,406


 Argyll and Bute
 18,233
 201
 3,156
 18,752
 206
 3,245


 Clackmannanshire
 9,764
 201
 3,014
 10,330
 212
 3,189


 Dumfries and Galloway
 31,242
 211
 3,260
 32,558
 219
 3,397


 Dundee City
 27,820
 196
 3,273
 28,726
 202
 3,379


 East Ayrshire
 26,260
 220
 3,182
 27,452
 230
 3,327


 East Dunbartonshire
 28,468
 269
 3,276
 29,376
 277
 3,380


 East Lothian
 18,126
 197
 3,129
 19,283
 210
 3,329


 East Renfrewshire
 24,207
 270
 3,174
 25,295
 282
 3,316


 Edinburgh, City of
 67,251
 147
 3,339
 70,921
 155
 3,521


 Eilean Siar
 7,820
 297
 4,066
 7,889
 299
 4,102


 Falkirk
 28,588
 192
 3,124
 30,439
 204
 3,326


 Fife
 73,996
 207
 3,301
 77,107
 216
 3,439


 Glasgow City
 95,136
 164
 3,283
 99,841
 173
 3,446


 Highland
 47,830
 224
 3,203
 50,091
 235
 3,354


 Inverclyde
 18,207
 222
 3,268
 18,828
 229
 3,380


 Midlothian
 18,531
 234
 3,335
 19,269
 243
 3,468


 Moray
 18,887
 214
 3,137
 19,891
 226
 3,304


 North Ayrshire
 29,945
 220
 3,253
 31,230
 230
 3,393


 North Lanarkshire
 72,734
 225
 3,252
 76,143
 235
 3,405


 Orkney
 5,916
 302
 4,146
 6,031
 308
 4,226


 Perth and Kinross
 25,223
 182
 3,185
 26,555
 192
 3,353


 Renfrewshire
 38,515
 227
 3,304
 40,475
 238
 3,472


 Scottish Borders
 22,569
 206
 3,228
 23,914
 218
 3,420


 Shetland
 6,966
 317
 4,173
 7,319
 333
 4,385


 South Ayrshire
 24,206
 217
 3,278
 25,253
 226
 3,420


 South Lanarkshire
 64,377
 210
 3,216
 67,903
 222
 3,392


 Stirling
 19,169
 221
 3,172
 20,197
 232
 3,342


 West Dunbartonshire
 21,214
 232
 3,316
 22,115
 242
 3,457


 West Lothian
 34,877
 213
 3,217
 36,572
 223
 3,373


 Scotland
 1,033,847
 203
 3,256
 1,082,775
 213
 3,410



  

 Secondary
 2006-07


Grant Aided Expenditure Allocation (£000)
Per Head (£)
Per Pupil (£)


 Aberdeen City
 35,361
 175
 3,382


 Aberdeenshire
 55,620
 236
 3,502


 Angus
 24,726
 226
 3,491


 Argyll and Bute
 19,904
 219
 3,445


 Clackmannanshire
 11,207
 230
 3,460


 Dumfries and Galloway
 33,201
 224
 3,464


 Dundee City
 29,127
 205
 3,426


 East Ayrshire
 28,361
 238
 3,437


 East Dunbartonshire
 29,758
 281
 3,424


 East Lothian
 20,419
 222
 3,525


 East Renfrewshire
 27,031
 302
 3,544


 Edinburgh, City of
 70,162
 153
 3,484


 Eilean Siar
 8,090
 307
 4,207


 Falkirk
 32,090
 215
 3,506


 Fife
 77,284
 217
 3,447


 Glasgow City
 99,010
 171
 3,417


 Highland
 51,975
 243
 3,480


 Inverclyde
 19,101
 233
 3,429


 Midlothian
 19,390
 245
 3,490


 Moray
 21,010
 238
 3,489


 North Ayrshire
 31,792
 234
 3,454


 North Lanarkshire
 77,439
 239
 3,463


 Orkney
 6,079
 310
 4,260


 Perth and Kinross
 27,833
 201
 3,514


 Renfrewshire
 40,136
 236
 3,443


 Scottish Borders
 24,516
 223
 3,506


 Shetland
 7,188
 327
 4,307


 South Ayrshire
 25,446
 228
 3,446


 South Lanarkshire
 69,189
 226
 3,456


 Stirling
 20,868
 240
 3,453


 West Dunbartonshire
 21,880
 239
 3,420


 West Lothian
 37,853
 231
 3,491


 Scotland
 1,103,045
 217
 3,474



  Notes: (i) Sources for Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) are the GAE Green Books for 2002-03 to 2006-07; for population numbers used to calculate the per head column are the most recent mid-year estimates (covering 2005-06) from General Register Office for Scotland, and for pupil numbers used to calculate the per pupil column the 2005-06 GAE Green Book which formed the base year calculation for Spending Review 2004.

  (ii) The allocations given above are neither budgets nor spending targets for an individual service (i.e. primary or secondary education) but a means of distributing the total block grant that the Executive provides to local authorities. It is for local authorities to decide how best to allocate the resources available to them, based on their local needs and priorities.

European Funding

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what definition of rural has been used in planning for the 2007-13 European Structural Fund programme.

Allan Wilson: No definition of "rural" has been fixed for the 2007-13 Structural Funds programmes. Under the proposed Priority 3 of the Lowlands and Uplands Scotland European Regional Development Fund Programme, which focuses on rural development, there will need to be spatial targeting of the funding on the rural areas of the region. One of the questions posed in the current consultation on this programme is how such areas should be defined. After the consultation closes – on 8 January – the Executive will consider the responses and publish a definition of rural areas before the end of February 2007 through its Structural Funds website ( www.scotland.gov.uk/structuralfunds ).

European Funding

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which departments were involved in determining the structure and location of intermediary delivery bodies prior to the publication on 24 October 2006 of the draft operational programme for the delivery of structural funds in Lowlands and Uplands Scotland.

Allan Wilson: The decisions relating to the proposed Intermediate Delivery Bodies (IDBs) for the delivery of future Structural Funds in Lowlands and Uplands Scotland were settled collectively. The Executive operates on the basis of collective responsibility, which ensures that issues that are of interest to more than one department are properly discussed and that the views of ministers are considered.

Funeral Expenses

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the cost of a basic funeral and what information it has on how much low-income families and benefit claimants are entitled to claim from the Department of Work and Pensions to cover these costs.

Malcolm Chisholm: I am not aware that the Scottish Executive has made any estimate of the cost of a basic funeral. Low-income families and benefit claimants can claim some of the costs to meet a basic funeral through the DWP’s Social Fund Funeral Payment. The amount allowable covers the necessary cost of specified items, including burial or cremation fees, plus up to £700 for all other funeral expenses. The publication What to do after a death in Scotland is available on the Scottish Executive website. This offers advice about funeral arrangements in Scotland including information about financial assistance available from the Social Fund.

Funeral Expenses

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty’s Government regarding increasing assistance to low-income families and benefit claimants in order to meet the costs of a basic funeral.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) provide assistance to low-income families and benefit claimants in order to meet some of the costs of a funeral through the regulated Social Fund Funeral Grant. The Social Fund as part of the DWP is a reserved matter to the UK Government but the Executive is in regular contact with colleagues in the DWP on a number of issues including benefits and assistance for low-income families including the Social Fund.

Health

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to approve the use of the drug pleconaril and what the timescale is for any such approval.

Lewis Macdonald: Licensing of medicines is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Before a medicine can be placed on the UK market it must have a marketing authorisation either from the MHRA or from the European Medicines Agency. The MHRA has advised that pleconaril does not have a UK marketing authorisation.

  Information about the MHRA and its work can be found at www.mhra.gov.uk.

Homelessness

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive how many households were registered as homeless (a) in Scotland and (b) broken down by local authority area in each of the last six years.

Malcolm Chisholm: The numbers of applications assessed as homeless under the homelessness legislation by local authorities are shown in the following table.

  Number of Applications Assessed as Homeless by Local Authority: 2000-01 to 2005-06

  

 
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06


 Scotland
 26,200
 31,100
 35,060
 36,674
 34,821
 36,299


 Aberdeen City
 860
 880
 846
 805
 659
 1,110


 Aberdeenshire
 640
 620
 667
 629
 723
 736


 Angus
 270
 310
 445
 536
 529
 531


 Argyll and Bute
 230
 340
 515
 561
 561
 656


 Clackmannanshire
 350
 390
 376
 408
 512
 598


 Dumfries and Galloway
 490
 620
 780
 801
 859
 827


 Dundee City
 530
 510
 415
 366
 376
 311


 East Ayrshire
 390
 430
 671
 692
 808
 734


 East Dunbartonshire
 230
 220
 258
 320
 258
 362


 East Lothian
 340
 450
 435
 436
 462
 553


 East Renfrewshire
 120
 150
 122
 195
 246
 260


 Edinburgh, City of
 3,470
 3,550
 3,815
 4,283
 4,192
 4,287


 Eilean Siar
 50
 60
 124
 130
 173
 155


 Falkirk
 940
 930
 1,021
 992
 808
 879


 Fife
 1,530
 1,800
 2,325
 2,824
 2,621
 2,729


 Glasgow City
 8,380
 11,520
 11,038
 10,624
 8,436
 8,609


 Highland
 440
 530
 791
 1,220
 1,292
 1,349


 Inverclyde
 190
 220
 364
 550
 430
 509


 Midlothian
 250
 310
 405
 422
 483
 467


 Moray
 210
 270
 546
 383
 413
 346


 North Ayrshire
 650
 820
 1,382
 1,295
 1,109
 1,076


 North Lanarkshire
 900
 1,110
 1,649
 1,972
 2,763
 2,879


 Orkney
 60
 70
 50
 65
 88
 87


 Perth and Kinross
 380
 430
 654
 361
 305
 390


 Renfrewshire
 630
 440
 565
 652
 689
 628


 Scottish Borders, The
 380
 350
 388
 598
 470
 529


 Shetland
 90
 110
 109
 105
 69
 43


 South Ayrshire
 570
 590
 551
 554
 552
 546


 South Lanarkshire
 820
 970
 1,335
 1,402
 1,267
 1,401


 Stirling
 460
 420
 505
 455
 535
 517


 West Dunbartonshire
 530
 660
 835
 860
 1,133
 1,230


 West Lothian
 910
 1,010
 1,078
 1,178
 1,000
 965



  Source: HL1 returns by local authorities to the Scottish Executive Development Department Analytical Services Division (Housing Statistics).

  Notes:

  1. All applications within period assessed as homeless (excluding potentially homeless).

  2. Some households may have applied several times during the period, and will be counted more than once.

  3. Data prior to 2002 are estimated due to missing returns (rounded to the nearest 100 for Scotland level and the nearest 10 for local authority level).

  4. Due to the live nature of the data collection system, figures are updated on a continuous basis and the information published here may differ from that published previously.

Homelessness

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is still committed to and on course to achieve the 2012 deadline to end homelessness in Scotland.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive remains committed to the target to abolish the priority need distinction in homelessness legislation by 2012. This will entitle all unintentionally homeless people to permanent accommodation. Local authorities have been set an interim target of reducing the proportion of non-priority assessments by 50% by 2009. We are committed to considering a range of factors to assess local authorities’ capacity to achieve the 2012 target, as set out in my Statement on the Abolition of Priority Need published in December 2005. The Homelessness Monitoring Group will report on the position in their next annual report next year.

Housing

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been evicted from their homes in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

Malcolm Chisholm: Local authority data on evictions were not collected before April 2001, and housing association data are not available at local authority level prior to 2003-04. Data on evictions in the private sector are not collected centrally.

  The following table shows the number of evictions by local authorities (LA) and housing associations (HA) for 2001-02 to 2005-06.

  Evictions by Local Authorities (LA) and Housing Associations (HA): 2001-02 to 2005-06

  

 
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06


 LA
 HA
 LA
 LA
 LA
 HA
 LA
 HA
 LA
 HA


 Scotland
 1,257
 435
 1,133
 464
 947
 597
 961
 656
 986
 547


 Aberdeen City
 13
 
 12
 
 31
 38
 7
 18
 13
 6


 Aberdeenshire
 45
 
 49
 
 65
 13
 42
 10
 18
 6


 Angus
 8
 
 18
 
 11
 13
 14
 1
 10
 9


 Argyll and Bute
 38
 
 37
 
 20
 2
 22
 7
 29
 1


 Clackmannanshire
 1
 
 2
 
 7
 4
 4
 10
 5
 21


 Dumfries and Galloway
 23
 
 39
 
 na
 52
 na
 44
 na
 32


 Dundee City
 82
 
 81
 
 78
 46
 77
 10
 51
 23


 East Ayrshire
 65
 
 67
 
 82
 9
 89
 8
 110
 5


 East Dunbartonshire
 11
 
 13
 
 12
 3
 11
 0
 17
 10


 East Lothian
 12
 
 15
 
 9
 2
 13
 6
 7
 5


 East Renfrewshire
 11
 
 5
 
 13
 3
 10
 5
 4
 0


 Edinburgh, City of
 30
 
 17
 
 22
 55
 27
 54
 30
 35


 Eilean Siar
 0
 
 0
 
 0
 1
 1
 0
 3
 2


 Falkirk
 105
 
 84
 
 69
 11
 82
 12
 98
 21


 Fife
 40
 
 77
 
 94
 36
 76
 27
 62
 21


 Glasgow City
 54
 
 114
 
 na
 162
 na
 272
 na
 215


 Highland
 53
 
 30
 
 42
 8
 26
 20
 32
 11


 Inverclyde
 35
 
 14
 
 17
 4
 9
 7
 0
 4


 Midlothian
 4
 
 18
 
 8
 7
 6
 4
 17
 7


 Moray
 7
 
 6
 
 6
 3
 4
 3
 5
 2


 North Ayrshire
 68
 
 57
 
 45
 11
 43
 8
 34
 8


 North Lanarkshire
 194
 
 121
 
 96
 31
 119
 15
 138
 13


 Orkney
 0
 
 0
 
 0
 3
 0
 1
 0
 0


 Perth and Kinross
 33
 
 20
 
 30
 8
 13
 2
 10
 3


 Renfrewshire
 127
 
 91
 
 72
 11
 97
 25
 132
 16


 Scottish Borders
 17
 
 13
 
 na
 13
 na
 40
 na
 43


 Shetland
 0
 
 0
 
 1
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 South Ayrshire
 48
 
 65
 
 29
 9
 48
 2
 16
 1


 South Lanarkshire
 83
 
 37
 
 58
 6
 47
 12
 64
 10


 Stirling
 19
 
 15
 
 22
 2
 14
 5
 18
 3


 West Dunbartonshire
 0
 
 0
 
 1
 18
 0
 15
 0
 8


 West Lothian
 31
 
 16
 
 7
 13
 59
 13
 63
 6



  Source: Evictions returns submitted by local authorities to the Scottish Executive Development Department, Analytical Services Division, Housing Statistics, housing association data provided by Communities Scotland.

  Note: Local authority data have been collected from April 2001 onward. Housing association data are not available at local authority level prior to 2003-04.

Housing

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been housed in temporary accommodation in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive collects snapshot data on the number of households placed in temporary accommodation under the homeless persons legislation as at the end of each quarter. The following table shows the numbers of households in temporary accommodation as at 31 March for 1999 to 2006.

  Households in Temporary Accommodation by Local Authority as at 31 March: 1999-2006

  

 All Households
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005
 20061


 Scotland
 3,864
 3,995
 4,060
 4,153
 5,488
 6,574
 7,539
 8,135


 Aberdeen city
 32
 31
 30
 32
 80
 76
 93
 122


 Aberdeenshire
 79
 96
 83
 74
 101
 144
 164
 194


 Angus
 25
 35
 42
 35
 43
 53
 76
 ..


 Argyll and Bute
 29
 29
 30
 41
 118
 144
 163
 199


 Clackmannanshire
 34
 39
 36
 55
 72
 101
 114
 108


 Dumfries and Galloway
 74
 65
 76
 103
 154
 188
 250
 238


 Dundee City
 93
 78
 107
 101
 131
 121
 171
 198


 East Ayrshire
 43
 30
 21
 16
 44
 51
 71
 100


 East Dunbartonshire
 62
 62
 69
 64
 84
 112
 116
 116


 East Lothian
 46
 43
 52
 69
 86
 111
 187
 188


 East Renfrewshire
 10
 12
 11
 9
 18
 24
 31
 25


 Edinburgh, City of
 238
 251
 305
 358
 397
 510
 525
 557


 Eilean Siar
 8
 6
 2
 7
 15
 20
 41
 48


 Falkirk
 28
 37
 50
 57
 149
 156
 175
 192


 Fife
 173
 192
 202
 216
 282
 352
 330
 369


 Glasgow City
 1,576
 1,724
 1,657
 1,507
 1,725
 2,024
 2,084
 2,168


 Highland
 72
 81
 87
 89
 145
 227
 327
 316


 Inverclyde
 16
 10
 23
 34
 80
 99
 97
 97


 Midlothian
 35
 30
 38
 21
 84
 14
 154
 131


 Moray
 36
 15
 25
 30
 36
 56
 64
 101


 North Ayrshire
 54
 72
 51
 132
 202
 291
 384
 ..


 North Lanarkshire
 213
 192
 217
 204
 290
 317
 338
 368


 Orkney
 28
 28
 33
 21
 35
 38
 48
 60


 Perth and Kinross
 57
 43
 26
 27
 52
 95
 142
 181


 Renfrewshire
 121
 138
 125
 130
 143
 185
 186
 167


 Scottish Borders, The
 16
 24
 35
 35
 6
 32
 40
 46


 Shetland
 71
 76
 74
 59
 69
 83
 96
 119


 South Ayrshire
 157
 161
 152
 137
 122
 159
 172
 212


 South Lanarkshire
 203
 181
 197
 246
 316
 345
 337
 432


 Stirling
 89
 93
 76
 72
 88
 88
 113
 139


 West Dunbartonshire
 16
 23
 20
 34
 112
 158
 242
 215


 West Lothian
 130
 98
 108
 138
 209
 200
 208
 269



  Source: Scottish Executive Housing Statistics Branch, HL2 Summary Homeless Data Set, as at December 11, 2006.

  Note: 1. Due to technical problems, Scotland totals include estimates for Angus and North Ayrshire based on previous data.

Housing

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total number of days spent in temporary accommodation by people evicted from their homes has been in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average length of time spent in temporary accommodation by people evicted from their homes has been in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been spent by each local authority on the temporary housing of people evicted from their homes in each year since 1999.

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many families with children under the age of 16 have been evicted from their homes in each year since 1999.

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total number of days spent in temporary accommodation by families with children under the age of 16 evicted from their home has been in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average length of time spent in temporary accommodation by families with children under the age of 16 evicted from their home has been in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent by each local authority on the temporary housing of families with children under the age of 16 evicted from their home in each year since 1999.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally.

Housing

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many families with children under the age of 16 have been housed in temporary accommodation in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive collects snapshot data on the number of households placed in temporary accommodation under the homeless persons legislation as at the end of each quarter. Data on households with dependent children have been collected since March 2001. The following table shows the numbers of households with dependent children in temporary accommodation as at 31 March for 2001 to 2006.

  Households with Children in Temporary Accommodation by Local Authority as at 31 March: 2001-2006

  

 Households with Dependent Children
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005
20061


 Scotland
 1,438
 1,329
 1,618
 2,031
 2,373
 2,798


 Aberdeen City
 13
 9
 5
 6
 12
 12


 Aberdeenshire
 56
 38
 53
 75
 95
 108


 Angus
 10
 7
 12
 10
 9
 ..


 Argyll and Bute
 9
 10
 21
 23
 57
 58


 Clackmannanshire
 13
 23
 16
 29
 27
 26


 Dumfries and Galloway
 26
 22
 43
 41
 67
 61


 Dundee City
 50
 48
 64
 65
 84
 105


 East Ayrshire
 10
 5
 10
 17
 20
 27


 East Dunbartonshire
 53
 41
 47
 60
 68
 67


 East Lothian
 42
 40
 40
 48
 82
 97


 East Renfrewshire
 6
 4
 8
 11
 15
 4


 Edinburgh, City of
 130
 132
 124
 160
 159
 187


 Eilean Siar
 1
 1
 1
 1
 10
 13


 Falkirk
 34
 33
 38
 44
 46
 73


 Fife
 110
 94
 106
 108
 135
 158


 Glasgow City
 298
 263
 374
 539
 610
 739


 Highland
 54
 51
 47
 63
 113
 104


 Inverclyde
 9
 9
 17
 41
 39
 55


 Midlothian
 31
 8
 51
 8
 45
 35


 Moray
 11
 15
 19
 26
 24
 33


 North Ayrshire
 15
 34
 37
 73
 85
 ..


 North Lanarkshire
 65
 59
 76
 100
 111
 152


 Orkney
 15
 8
 17
 16
 25
 28


 Perth and Kinross
 13
 10
 15
 35
 46
 63


 Renfrewshire
 58
 55
 64
 74
 55
 65


 Scottish Borders, The
 14
 14
 2
 8
 6
 14


 Shetland
 33
 21
 27
 30
 33
 30


 South Ayrshire
 53
 52
 34
 44
 28
 72


 South Lanarkshire
 92
 103
 135
 145
 136
 132


 Stirling
 37
 28
 28
 36
 36
 52


 West Dunbartonshire
 9
 13
 27
 38
 32
 42


 West Lothian
 68
 79
 60
 57
 63
 92



  Source: Scottish Executive Housing Statistics Branch, HL2 Summary Homeless Data Set, as at December 11, 2006.

  Note: 1. Due to technical problems, Scotland totals include estimates for Angus and North Ayrshire based on previous data.

Olympic Games

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has estimated the impact of the London Olympics on planned construction projects in Scotland in respect of (a) cost and (b) availability of construction workers and materials and, if so, what these estimates are and, if not, whether it intends to undertake such estimates.

Allan Wilson: A paper submitted jointly by CITB-ConstructionSkills and Summit Skills to the National Skills Forum in November 2005 estimated that, at its peak in 2010, construction activity generated by the Games will account for 3.7% of total Greater London output in any one year. The share of the Olympics construction employment for 2010 is estimated at 2.7% of the total Greater London employment.

  The Construction Skills Network Observatory, involving CITB-ConstructionSkills, Scottish Enterprise Glasgow and other relevant bodies, meets regularly to review future skills availability in Scotland in the light of research conducted by external consultants. This research takes into account demand both from within Scotland and from the wider UK market, including the London Olympics.

Planning

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many responses were received to the consultation on Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 6 and when the finalised document will be published.

Malcolm Chisholm: 1020 responses were received on the Executive’s draft proposals. The intention is to publish finalised guidance before the end of February 2007.

Prescriptions

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether consideration is being given to the supply of "shelter safe care" stoma flanges (UF7000) by NHS prescription, as was agreed in England on 1 August 2006, and, if so, when a decision is likely to be made.

Lewis Macdonald: Yes. Applications for addition of stoma appliance products to the Scottish Drug Tariff are now considered by the Stoma Nurses Commodity Advisory Panel, which is planned to meet next during January 2007.

Scottish Executive Contracts

Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what contracts and arrangements for the provision of insurance services it holds with (a) Royal and Sun Alliance and (b) Marsh UK.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive does not hold a central record of contracts and arrangements for the provision of insurance services. The Executive’s finance system (which covers core Executive departments and many Executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies) shows that some payments have been made to Royal Sun Alliance and Marsh UK. However, details of the contracts and arrangements which relate to those payments could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  As a general rule commercial insurance would only be justified in constituent parts of the Scottish Administration if the cost of claims, including in-house and contracted-out administration costs, was calculated as likely to exceed the cost of insurance premiums. However, in certain circumstances there are special factors which may justify commercial insurance being taken out.

Scottish Executive Funding

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has given to Scottish Women’s Aid in each year since 1999.

Malcolm Chisholm: Scottish Executive funding of Scottish Women’s Aid in each year from 1999 is detailed as follows.

  

 Year
 Core
 Project
 Total Amount


 1999-2000
£114,957
£125,168
£240,125


 2000-01
£114,957
£266,115
£381,072


 2001-02
£114,957
£174,708
£289,665


 2002-03
£114,957
£183,307
£298,264


 2003-04
£191,486
£223,905
£415,391


 2004-05
£225,576
£428,568
£654,144


 2005-06
£215,540
£274,790
£490,330


 2006-07
£259,001
£215,690
£474,691


 Total
£1,351,431
£1,892,251
£3,243,382



  These figures set out funding that has gone directly to Scottish Women’s Aid from the Scottish Executive and include core funding and funding for specific projects, such as training, children’s work and housing.

Scottish Executive Procurement

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many value-for-money exercises on the use of (a) management consultants and (b) professional advisers it conducted in each of the last five years.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive does not hold this information centrally and therefore could only provide this information at disproportionate cost.

Scottish Executive Procurement

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on external media trainers in each year since 1999, broken down by supplier.

Mr Tom McCabe: The breakdown of Scottish Executive spend by supplier on media trainers since 1999 is:

  

 Paddy Christie
 Christina McIntyre Media


 1999: £4,650
 1999: £1,560


 2000: £2,500
 2000: £1,040


 2001: £3,200
 2001: £2,080


 2002: £8,775
 2002: £1,045


 2003: £825
 2003: £1,695


 2004: £1,975
 2004: £1,300


 2005: £3,450
 2005: No spend


 2006: £1,000
 2006: £650

Waste Management

Iain Smith (North East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been allocated to Fife Council from the Strategic Waste Fund in each of the last three financial years and for future years.

Ross Finnie: The following funding has been allocated to Fife Council from the Strategic Waste Fund. Resources from 2008-09 onwards are indicative and depend on the outcome of future Spending Reviews.

  

2003-04 (£)
2004-05 (£)
2005-06 (£)
2006-2007 to 2019-20 (£)
Total (£)


 2,289,400
 4,581,158
 6,876,430
 57,706,362
 71,453,350

Waste Management

Iain Smith (North East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to make a decision on the Strategic Waste Fund Phase 2 Assessment Processes: Fife Strategic Options Review Group strategic outline case, submitted to Scottish Ministers by Fife Council in May 2006.

Ross Finnie: The Fife Strategic Outline Case is being considered at the moment, along with other Strategic Outline Cases, and we will make an announcement on the way forward in due course. Given the potential for significant spend in this area, we must be satisfied that proposals are achievable, affordable, represent value for money and do not act as a brake on increased recycling and composting.